Seqalu: Formosa 1867

• I'm thrilled someone in Taiwan took on adapting this history for television, letting more people learn what happened on this land. I remember turning on the TV used to mean local soaps or romantic idol dramas. It was around 'Wake Up' that I noticed Taiwanese dramas tackling serious topics in depth; coincidentally, its stars Huang Jian-wei and Wu Kang-ren also play Liu Ming-deng and Shui Tzu in 'Seqalu'. Adapting 'Seqalu' is no easy feat—balancing ethnic conflicts is a huge challenge. The opening scenes of episode 1 stunned me: the aerial landscapes are gorgeous, showing Taiwan from an angle I had never seen before.

• I am truly grateful to be able to watch a Taiwanese historical costume drama with such depth. What amazed me most is the research into the period costumes and character imagery—they look as if they stepped right out of vintage photographs. I know this is a drama and the actors are handsome and beautiful, whereas real people back then would have looked far more haggard, emaciated, and with terrible teeth rather than as healthy as in the show, but it is truly realistic enough.

• The next moment, the aerial shot of Taiwan Prefecture appeared—I got goosebumps and thought 'wow'. Huge thanks to the production team for this meticulous work; you gave us not just imagery, but an era we ought to cherish that was once lost. As the story unfolds, the performances bring it vividly to life, conveying how people gave everything to survive. Eating dinner in front of my computer with the AC on, I felt that heavy atmosphere so deeply I paused eating for minutes. The intrigue and deception came down to survival and safety. It doesn't simply portray good versus evil, but the clash of distinct perspectives.

• 'Seqalu' pioneers a new genre for Taiwanese drama, akin to a Taiwanese 'taiga drama.' I thought Director Tsao's previous work 'A Touch of Green' was already deep in theme, but 'Seqalu' delves even deeper. Even though the subject matter is profound and demanding, it represents a period of history that Taiwanese people should understand. The turmoil between different ethnic groups is history, and it is also a collective cultural trauma; but perhaps through drama, we can experience a healing process together. It would be an absolute shame to miss a show like this!

• Examining the closing credits carefully, I realized how deeply they researched the costumes, languages, and period background, including the actors' hair and makeup. There is none of that trope where characters farming or doing manual labor look fair-skinned and spotless; even their physiques are perfectly authentic. Laborers lacking adequate nutrition and protein look lean, dark, and weathered, without gym-sculpted muscles. Beyond the huge budget that allowed for such delicate craft, the actors' personal dedication to transforming their appearances is admirable, and you can truly feel the team's immense passion and love for the work.

1 / 5